For Whom The Bell Tolls? Sould UK Public Services be Cut Back to Provide Public Services in Afghanistan?
For anyone who has heard the single bell toll from the church tower of St Bartholomew, Wootton Bassett. Not once but sometimes twice in one week knows that another cortege of the dead returning from Afghanistan has begun. Known as repatriation, the first sign that this sad train of events is taking place is, for those living locally the sound of the “Black Tulip” the aircraft carrying the bodies of the service personnel flying low overhead as it approaches the town to begin its run into RAF Lyneham. After as the courtege passes by the people lining the streets to the sound of the bell. It is accompanied by quiet muffled personal sounds of grief. There and then a strong emotional charge that is felt by everyone. It sweeps over you, it is in your very being and washes all around you. This primordial wave of sorrow and grief grips you and holds you there for what seems an eternity though in reality it is only seconds.
With that in mind it makes it very hard to speak out and question the war in Afghanistan, because we all support the service personnel and their families. It goes without saying that there is a strong warmth towards our men and women in the war zone. I fully support each and everyone of the service personnel in the war zone, and the families that have lost a loved one. I want to see better services for the veterans that will live with their experiences and memories and for some the injuries for years to come. Their families and friends will continue to support them and I hope the nation will do so as well.
What we now need to have is the debate that is shied away from by politicians and people alike. How much is this war costing? It has been announced by the condem coalition today that spending is to be increased on providing schools etc and other aid to Afghanistan by 40% some £500,000,000 yes 500 hundred million pounds.
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Is it right that our schools building programme and our public services are to be cut to provide such services to Afghanistan?
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Is it right to take our from our children’s future well being to give it to those in Afghanistan?
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Should our public services be cut to provide services in Afghanistan?
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Should taxpayers in this country pay taxes to provide public services in Afghanistan?
My view is no, I am yet to be convinced that we should be doing this as Liam Fox defence minister said in the times in June
“We are not in Afghanistan for the sake of the education policy in a broken, 13th-century country. We are there so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened”
Let us now have this debate now and let it be open and honest and not jingoistic or viewed by some as unpatriotic. Will the government come out and convince me or you? Why in my case is it failing to convince me? Here are some articles to ponder.
BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10675583
Newstatesman http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/05/13th-century-fox-afghanistan
Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7133539.ece
Yahoo http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100718/tuk-britain-to-boost-afghan-aid-spending-45dbed5.html
I am concerned that Afghanistan is becoming the 21st century road to integration? I am beginning to see this like the 20th century question for my generation, which was about European integration and maintaining the BAOR. That is why I am so troubled by this boost, however all this is an issue about the future. We should all become involved in scrutinising all the decisions made by our government about the continuing war in Afghanistan including taking away our public services to provide them in Afghanistan.
Miscellaneous | Councillor Steve Wakefield | 
July 18, 2010 11:16 am
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